Her Voice coach Miley Cyrus honored Janice with a touching speech and performance at her memorial service.

The Voicefamily faced a devastating loss this year. Former contestant Janice Freeman passed away in March at age 33 following an "extreme case" of pneumonia and a blood clot that traveled to her heart. Two weeks after her death, the late singer's friends and family hosted a ceremony to celebrate her life and streamed it live on Facebook.

Fans of The Voice will remember Janice from season 13 of the NBC reality show, where she opened up about her health struggles during her emotional Blind Audition. She eventually joined Miley Cyrus's team and made it to the Top 11 before she was eliminated—but the coach and contestant remained close friends long after the competition was over. So it only seemed fitting that Miley pay tribute to her team member and friend at the memorial.

Miley became visibly emotional as she explained during the ceremony how much Janice meant to her.

"Before we sing this song for Janice, I just want to clear up a rumor. I was never her coach—ever. She was always mine," Miley said through tears. "I’ve learned more from her than anyone that I’ve ever gotten the honor to be in the room with, not just vocally. I should’ve gotten more lessons than I did—but she taught me everything that I know about love."

The singer was originally expected to perform solo during her musical tribute to Janice, but admitted that she was too upset. Instead, Miley enlisted the help of her father, Billy Ray Cyrus, to sing with her.

"I had planned on singing a song for her, but just losing her is just too much for me," she explained. "So... my dad’s gonna take care of this for me. But, I'll always be your sister, I'm here for you, and I'm here for your family, and Janice I'll miss you more than I could ever say."

Miley eventually joined Billy Ray in singing a powerful rendition of "Amazing Grace," but broke down crying again when the performance was over.

"Thank you, Janice, for letting me be your friend," she said before walking off the stage. "It's been an honor."

Kelly O'SullivanContent Strategy EditorKelly O’Sullivan is the content strategy editor for CountryLiving.com and also covers entertainment news, from standout moments on “The Voice” to the latest drama on “Chicago Fire.”

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